Posture girdle



D. WELLS POSTURE GIRDLE April 19, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 18 1963 Aprll 19, 1966 D. WELLS 3,246,650

POSTURE GIRDLE Filed Dec. 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVENTOR.' DOHEN/CA WELLS BYWWW'XWM United States Patent 3,246,650 POSTURE GIRDLE Domenica Weils, 149412 Manchester Road, St. Louis, Mo. Filed Dec. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 331,444 23 Ciaims. (Cl. 128528) The present invention relates to a posture girdle designed to cooperate with particular muscles of the lower body to raise the abdomen and to draw the seat or buttocks downward and inward.

The girdle may preferably be made as a panty girdle. In any case, it provides a base upon which various elastic support means are mounted, each to cooperate with particular lower torso muscles, by applying to the body resilient forces primarily in the directions of the forces of such muscles. One such support draws horizontally across the abdomen, as do the transversalis muscles. A second draws upwardly and inwardly, then upwardly and outwardly, as do the inner and outer oblique muscles. A third draws upwardly medially of the abdomen, as do the rcctus abdominis muscles. Another draws generally vertically down across the buttocks, corresponding to the gluteus maximus muscles. A

To accomplish the foregoing, the garment preferably has a snugly-fitting panty shell as the base, formed of relatively light two-way stretch material with elastic means simulating the gluteus maximus muscle attached to the back. It includes a front panel or floating hanger of relatively light two-way stretch material that may have a partial liner or hanger upon which several abdominal support members can be mounted that perform the functions of the three support means above-mentioned, that correspond to the muscles of the belly. The elastic panels are formed of elastic material that applies greater pressures than does the material of the panty shell.

It is an object of the invention therefore to provide supports on a hanger that will simulate the rectus abdominis muscle, supports that will simulate the transversalis muscles, supports that will simulate the internal and external oblique muscles. Finally, it is an object to provide the aforesaid supports, or at least some of them, in an arrangement on a hanger or panel that can be secured to the base or panty shell at a height suitable to the individual case, and which hanger, with its attached supports, is sufiiciently freely elastic to be somewhat movable over the body of the wearer so that it can be comfortably located. It is an object to obtain such a garment that is neat in appearance and which has smooth external contours so that it will not be apparent when worn with a tight-fitting dress.

While the principal objects of the invention are in cluded in the foregoing and in the specific nature of each of the individual muscle supports-nevertheless other objects will appear from the description to follow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front view, partly broken away, of the present invention in a panty garment, hems being omitted for clarity;

FIGURE 2 is a rear view, also partly cut away, of the garment of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a developed view of one of the two sections of the panty shell;

FIGURE 4 is a developed view of one of the two back supports for simulating the gluteus maximus muscles;

FIGURE 5 is a view of two identical elements of the innermost abdominal support panels simulating the rectus abdominis muscle, the two supports being shown separated;

FIGURE 6 is a view of one of the two outermost abdominal support members designed to simulate the transversalis muscle;

3,2d5fi5fi Patented Apr. 19, I966 "ice FIGURE 7 is a view of one of the intermediate abdominal supports designed to simulate internal and external oblique muscles, two of these being required;

FIGURE 8 is a view of one of the two panels that form the hanger upon which the various supports may be mounted;

FIGURES 9 through 14 are developed views of the garment, inside-out, showing the several panels or supports as they may be successively added to the garment;

FIGURE 9 is a developed view, inside-out, of the garment showing the back supports for the gluteus maximus muscles, in position;

FIGURE 10 is a developed view, inside-out, showing the floating hanger upon which the front or belly support means are mounted;

FIGURE 11 is a view with the outermost abdominal support for the transversalis muscles mounted upon the hanger, and with the innermost support shown dotted to indicate its relationship;

FIGURE 12 is a view with the intermediate abdominal supports for the inner and outer oblique muscles, mounted upon the hanger and superposed onto the hanger;

FIGURE 13 is a view of the rectus abdominis muscle support mounted upon the hanger;

FIGURE 14 is a view with the back support and the floating hanger to which all of the front support elements are attached; and

FIGURE 15 is a somewhat spread-apart section taken on the line 15-15 of FIGURE 14, dimensions being exaggerated.

As illustrated in the drawings, the base is shown as a garment including essentially a panty shell 20 that can have a waist 21 and two leg parts 22 and 23. This garment may be formed from two identical fabric panels 24 of a light two-way stretch material, illustrated in FIGURE 3, that are put together as shown in FIGURES 9-14 wherein one of the panels is indicated at 24a, the other at 2415. In the final garment, the panels are stitched together at their front edges 25 in an appropriate seam. They are also secured together at their back edges 26 in an appropriate seam. At the front also the lower edges are cut back as shown at 27 and stitched together. The back edges are cut back as shown at 28 and small triangular darts 3t} and 31 are interposed into the parts of the edges 28 to give fullness in the crotch.

The panty shell is preferably made out of two-way stretch elastic net so that it fits tightly against the body of the wearer. As previously noted, appropriate hems are normally provided on the garment but are not here shown. It is desirable to have inside notches 32 in the bottom edges of the legs, so as to prevent excessive binding of the garment on the legs of an overweight wearer. By putting the notches on the inside, the garment does not squeeze the sensitive fatty portions of the wearer. The stretch of the material of the panty shell is indicated by the dashed arrows in FIGURE 3.

The garment has back elements 34- (FIGURE 4) designed to have stress simulating the gluteus maximus muscles. It can be seen that the element 34 is of oneway stretch elastic material primarily extendable in the direction of the dashed arrow in FIGURE 4. The two panels are stitched onto the two panty panels 24a and 24-12, as panels 34a and 34b respectively. In FIGURE 2 the two panels are shown in position and the one-way stretch is approximately vertical, parallel to the seam along the edges 26. With the fit of the panty shell, the downward pull upon the garment is received by the panels 34a and 34b and is resilient-1y absorbed by them.

The two panels 34a and 34b extend over the two leg openings and downwardly adjacent to the bottom thereof so that garters can be attached to them. Thus the garter loads are applied downwardly on the panels 34a and 34b and aid in applying a downward force to the buttocks. The garters dotted in at G are attached at the points G1 and G2 on the rear panels, and the points G-3 on the front. Preferably the garters are removable. As noted, the back garters aid the action of the garment to flatten the buttocks. Where the term flatten the buttocks is used herein, it is not necessarily meant to signify making that portion of the anatomy flattened instead of rounded, but is rather meant to indicate the action of providing a proper support for the low back area and at the same time hugging the buttocks to a more natural contour and to aid in diminishing any exaggerated lumbar curve of of the spine. Preferably the foregoing action is cooperative wit-h and basic to certain front supporting action, the sum of which is a natural contour and also a superior support for the lower torso. The front garters, attached thus, are longer than usual, which gives them greater elasticity and reduces their tendency to start runs.

The gluteus maximus muscle extends in a general way from the upper center of the buttocks downwardly and outwardly. The panels 34a and 34b similarly extend generally from the center of the buttocks downwardly and outwardly on the two sides of the body. It will be observed that with the line of stretch of these panels, generally vertical, the garment can accommodate the bending of the waist and trunk but does not have a great stretch laterally. So while accommodating bending of the trunk, it nevertheless applies forces that act downwardly in the direction'of the gluteus maximus, aiding and supplementing the support given by those muscles, and also flattening them. This action aids in reducing the lumbar curvature of the spine. Such curvature usually is excessive in people who need lower torso support.

The front of the garment is supplied with the support group shown in full in FIGURE 14. This group is mounted upon a hanger and hence the hanger with its supports can be secured inside the front of the garment at a height suitable to the wearer. This is a construction preferable to applying the supports directly to the panels 24a and 2412, although direct mounting is possible.

As shown in FIGURE 8, the hanger is made up of two panels 38 that havetwo-way stretch as indicated by the dashed arrows. This two-way stretch is similar to that of the panty shell and is similar in direction. The material may be the same. The two panels are sewed together along their edges 40, to make a single hanger that is stitched around its periphery to the inside of the panels 24:: and 24b.

The outermost abdominal support is then assembled. It is designed to supplement the horizontal forces of the transversalis muscles. It is made up of two panels 42 shown separately in FIGURE 6 and in place in FIG- URE l l. They have one-way stretch, as indicated by th arrows in FIGURE 6, which means that they are principally yieldable in a horizontal direction. Two of the outermost panels are stitched together along their edges 43 giving the unitary panel 42a-42b, as illustrated in the drawings. The unit comprising the two panels 42a and 42b is stitched around its outer periphery, generally designated 44, to the hanger 38a and 38b preferably prior to its being attached to the panty shell. The function of the panel 42a and 42b is to supply stress simulating the transversalis muscles.

The transversalis muscles are the internal ones of the flat muscles of the abdomen, extending generally horizontally from the inguinal ligament, the upper part of the iliac crest, the lumbodorsal fascia, and from the inner surface of the eartilages of the lower six ribs, toward the center of the body. The panels 42 thus have a general shape similar to the shape of the transveralis muscles, since the lateral extremes 45 (45a, 45b) extend approxmately to the lumbodorsal fascia region while above the lateral points the panels 42 extend upwardly at approximately the lines of the lower rib cage. Below the lateral points, the panels 42 extend downwardly and inwardly in the general manner of the crest of the ilium and the inguinal ligament. The bottom part of the panel 42a-42b is cut away because of the fact that the transversalis extends inwardly in this area and finally terminates in the falx inquinalis. Thus it can be seen that the combined panel 42a42b corresponds rather closely with the shape of the transversalis muscle and has its stretch in that same direction.

Next the two intermediate abdominal supports are formed together. These are composed of two straight panels 50, one of which is illustrated in FIGURE 7, having stretch longitudinally as indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 7. They are initially sewed together in a crossed pattern illustrated in FIGURE 12, the stitching 51 forming the diamond at the intersection of the two panels. Then the assembly, consisting of the two joined panels 50a and 50b, is stitched at the end edges of the elements to the hanger 4011-4011, the end edges of the panels 50 being curved so that they correspond to the curvatures of the two panels 42a and 42b.

The function of the intermediate abdominal support formed of the panels 50114501) is to simulate the internal and external oblique muscles of the abdomen. The internal oblique muscles overlie the transversalis muscles. They are situated in the lateral and anterior part of the abdominal wall and are of irregular quadri-lateral form. Each one arises from the lateral half of the inguinal ligament and the nearby iliac fascia, from the anterior twothirds of the middle lip of the iliac crest, and from the lower part of the lumbar aponeurosis. The upper parts of this muscle extend upwardly and inwardly toward the center of the body. The lower parts of this muscle extend more or less horizontally inwardly toward the center of the body. Consequently, the portions of the panels 50a and 50b that extend from the upper parts of these panels down to the center of the garment correspond to the internal oblique muscles of the body or at least to a mean of these muscles.

The external oblique muscles extend downwardly and inwardly toward the center of the body. Each is situated on the lateral and anterior parts of the abdomen and is the largest of the three fiat muscles of this region. It arises from the external surfaces and interior borders of the lower eight ribs, by eight fleshy digitations. While the most lateral of the muscular fibers of the outer oblique muscles extend generally vertically, the ones forwardly therefrom are directed downward and forward and terminate in the broad abdominal aponeurosis. Thus in general it may be said that the external oblique muscles have principal portions that extend downwardly and forwardly toward the center of the body from the sides thereof. Hence the upper portions of the two panels 50!: and 50b extend downwardly and forwardly to the area of the center of the body and correspond in general to the direction of the fibers of the external oblique muscles.

The ends of the panels 5911-5012 are spaced on opposite sides of the points 45a and 45b of the panel 42a42b. This gives the latter a certain freedom from the panels 50a50b. The diagonal stretch across the abdomen is decreased by the panel 50a-50b, while the horizontal stretch is generally that of the panel 42a-42b.

The innermost abdominal support member in the present invention is made up of two panels 55a and 55b, shown separately in FIGURE 5. These panels have the shapes indicated and are initially stitched together along their common edge 56, to form a single panel 5511-5511 the shape of which is illustrated in FIGURE 13. The panels have stretch somewhat diagonally as illustrated by the arrows in FIGURE 5. The combined panel 55a-55b has five projections whereat it is stitched to the hanger 40a-40b as illustrated in FIGURE 14.

The purpose of the innermost abdominal support is to simulate the rectus abdominis muscle. The rectus ab S dominal muscle is a long flat muscle which extends along the whole front of the abdomen and is separated from its fellow of the opposite side by the linea alba. It arises by two tendons, one attached to the crest of the pubis, the other interlaced with its fellow of the opposite side and connected with the ligaments covering the front of the symphysis pubis. At its upper end it is inserted by three portions of unequal size into the cartilages of the fifth, sixth and seventh ribs. This rectus abdominis muscle flexes the vertebral column, particularly the lumbar portion. It is important in that it can draw the sternum toward the pubis and can tense the anterior abdominal wall.

The general direction of the muscles making up the rectus abdominis is from the lower middle of the abdomen upwardly and somewhat outwardly. Since it originates adjacent the pubis at the lower center of the abdomen, the central part of the combined panels 55a-55b is secured in the pubic region of this garment, and being secured by the lateral projections at the top, this panel 55a-55b applies resilient forces that correspond in general to those that are produced by the rectus abdominis. i

As previously noted, the panels 42a42b, 50a-50b, and 55(1-551) are applied to the hanger 38a-38b and are stitched thereto, as indicated in FIGURE 14. There the line of stitching corresponds substantially to the outline 4d of the panels 42a42b, and it includes the ends of the panels 5001-5011 and SSa-SSb. Then the hanger itself is stitched to the inside of the front wall of the panty shell in the manner shown. By virtue of having the several supports mounted on the hanger, the supports can be applied to the panty shell to suit the individual customers anatomy and can be raised up or lowered with respect to the front wall of the panty shell appropriately to the ultimate wearer.

In use, this garment actually supplements the muscles of the abdomen as well as the gluteus maximus. The several supports extend in the direction corresponding to the individual muscles they are designed to aid and they have an extent that, generally speaking, corresponds to the extent of these muscles. By this arrangement, the whole abdominal wall is aided and is raised and drawn inwardly. This counteracts, for example, the familiar sag occurring in people in middle age. Furthermore, the simulated muscular action of the present girdle can have a valuable effect on the posture of the spinal column, particularly in the lumbar region. As the abdominal sag takes place and increases with the decrease in muscle tone of the abdominal muscles, a greater imbalance of load upon the spinal column occurs. This tends to exaggerate the lumbar curvature of the spine in a manner not only not considered graceful in appearance, but also in a manner that tends to produce physical ailments.

The improvement in posture provided by the present garment can actually aid in correcting this condition of the spinal column, since it tends to cause the vertebrae to Y be moved in a direction that reduces this excessive curvature in the lumbar region and disposes them in a more normal position wherein nerve irritations are much less likely to occur.

Furthermore, the tightening of the abdominal muscles, which can ocur when the present garment is worn, especially when accompanied by a pulling down on the gluteus maximus, actually applies a stress that tends to draw the abdomen up and tends to straighten out the lumbar curve in the spine. This permits the vertebrae to have a more normal spacing, especially at the rear parts thereof which tend to be wedged together with an excessive curvature.

In summary, the garment is worn with its top edge approximately at the waist. The back panels 34a and 34b tend to flatten the gluteus maxim-us muscles, especially when they are used with garters attached to the lower parts thereof. Tightening of these muscles by pulling them down also produces a tendency to draw up on the anterior abdominal muscles, the direction of stretch of the two panels 34a-34b being such that stretch can occur 6 to permit the bending of the torso, but it does not occui laterally.

The forward part of the girdle provides supports that cooperate with the abdominal muscles. The outermost panels 42a-42b are stretchable laterally and cooperate with the transversalis muscles giving them added support, this support extending from well around to the sides of the abdomen. The intermediate panels 5041-5012 extend diagonally and cross over at their middle portions, whereby they can aid the internal and external oblique muscles. Being narrow, these panels are connected to the upper and lower parts of the hanger and therefore do not interfere with the action of the panels 42a42b or vice versa.

The panels 5541-551) aid the rectus abdominis and stretch in a generally vertical direction, largely between the ends of the str-aplike panels 50a-50b. Since the panel 55a55b is secured at its points, as indicated, in- 'cluding the medial bottom point, and stretches on the bias, it applies forces that are essentially vertical. Since any one-way stretch elastic material has some transverse stretch, and a good deal of stretch on the bias, the effect of the panel 55a-5Sb is to apply forces that are greater than what would be applied by the material of the panel Aim-42b.

It may be noted that the several support panels are stitched to the hanger at the points indicated, and are free otherwise. They are made of relatively resistant elastic fabric, considerably stronger than the material of the shell.

The garment is especially comfortable. One reason for this is that the relatively light material of the hanger 40a40b permits it to have an effect of floating. It yields to forces so that it will shift the support panels in directions to ease uncomfortable straining by them. Another reason is that when the wearer sits down, the cramping effect of a typical two-way stretch girdle is absent. Assuming a seated position forces the buttocks out. With a two-way stretch girdle this pulls uncomfortably on the belly, and also draws the belly down. The present garment urges the belly up. It tends to keep a person sitting erect, particularly when a person, seated erectly, leans forward. Such movement makes the lumbar region .curve forwardly. This tendency to excessively curve the lumbar area is counteracted by the fact that in the pres- .ent garment the abdominal pull upward and inward opposes the tendency, and influences the wearer to move bodily forward instead.

This garment applies forces to the body that tend to correct the bad posture that leads to discomfort. Aiding the supporting muscles of the abdomen as explained improves posture, and improves cramped conditions of internal organs of the body and of the spine and skeletal structure.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the process of this invention as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a garment: a main garment adapted to fit around .the abdomen of a wearer and having a front part adapted to extend from the crotch area to the waist area of a wearer, to overlie the rectus abdominis, the transversalis, and the oblique set of muscles of the wearer; first elastic panel means secured at its lateral edges to the garment and extending across the front part of the garment, having vertical and lateral extent to overlie the middle of said front part of the garment, and having resiliency to yield principally only horizontally, thereby being adapted to support the transversalis muscles of a wearer, a second elastic panel means extending from the upper to the 'lower part of the front part of the garment and on opposite sides of the middle thereof, it being secured onto the front of the garment at spaced points toward the upper and lower parts of the front of the garment, and on opposite sides of the middle of the front thereof, with resiliency to yield principally only in a substantially vertical direction but slightly upward and outward, so as to be adapted to overlie a second of said sets of muscles, said second elastic panel means overlying the first and being limited in area to come substantially within the area of such second set of muscles.

2. The garment of claim 1, with a third elastic means overlying the aforesaid two elastic panel means, the third elastic means being secured onto the front of the garment at spaced points toward the upper and lower parts of the garment and on opposite sides of the median at the front thereof, with resiliency to yield principally only in the direction diagonally across the front part of the garment from the under part of each side to the upper part of the opposite side at an angle between the principal yielding of the two first named panel means, whereby the third panel means is adapted to overlie a third of said sets of muscles, said third elastic means being limited in area to come substantially within the area of said front part of the garment.

3. The garment of claim 2, which comprises a panty shell, fourth elastic means secured onto the rear thereof extending from adjacent the waist portion downwardly and outwardly over the leg portions of the shell, the fourth elastic means being yieldable principally only in the direction downwardly and outwardly whereby it is adapted to overlie the gluteus maximus; and hanger panel means secured to the panty shell to which the first three elastic means are connected.

4. Means providing an abdominal support, including a base having front and rear parts adapted to surround the abdomen of a wearer, from the crotch to the waist; resistingly elastic support extending across the front part of the base and adapted to overlie the abdomen of the wearer and the rectus abdominis muscles, and comprising panel means secured to the front part of the base at the middle bottom adjacent the crotch portion thereof, extending upward and outward from the crotch portion of the base to adjacent the waist, and attached to the base on opposite sides of the middle thereof, whereby it is adapted to overlie and coact with the rectus abdominis muscles of a wearer.

5. A support garment comprising a panty shell of twoway stretch material providing a garment with a waist portion, an abdominal portion and leg portions; a pair of back panels elastic vertically, secured about their peripheries to the shell, and extending from the waist portion downwardly across the middle of the buttocks portion, and diverging outwardly to overlie the leg portions to receive garters; and to flatten the buttocks by urging them forwardly; a front hanger formed as a panel of two-way stretch material stitched at its periphery to the front of the garment to overlie the abdomen of the wearer; a plurality of elastic support means mounted on the hanger, including a first support panel means yieldable horizontally to cooperate with the transversalis muscles, a second support panel means including two strap-like elements crossed over one another, each yieldable longitudinally, and the two disposed diagonally across the abdominal portion to cooperate with the oblique muscles; and a third support panel means yieldable upwardly, attached at its bottom and sides to the hanger, and adapted to cooperate with the rectus abdominis muscles when in position on the wearer; all of the elastic support means being free from the hanger and the garment between their peripheral attachments to the hanger; the elastic support means being adapted to raise the abdomen and flatten the same in cooperation with the back panels.

6. A lower torso support, a base having an abdominal portion to engage on the abdomen of a wearer, first resilient, elastic means primarily yieldable in a horizontal direction disposed on the base for location against the front of the abdomen, second resilient elastic means pri marily yieldable in a vertical direction and disposed on the abdominal portion of the base for location against the front of the abdomen of the wearer; and third resilient elastic means primarily yieldable diagonally and disposed in crossing relationship against the front of the abdominal portion of the base; the base maintaining said resilient means snugly on the abdomen to draw the same in and up.

7. The support of claim 6, with additional elastic means on the base yieldable primarily in a vertical direction and disposed on the rear of the abdominal portion of the base for location against the buttocks of the wearer, so that the buttocks are drawn down when the abdomen is drawn up.

8. In a garment: body-encircling means adapted to surround and fit over the abdomen and buttocks of a wearer, the means having portions adapted for covering the buttocks; panel means including two portions, one for each side of the buttocks-covering portions; each panel portion being secured to the body-encircling means adjacent to the upper part thereof from the middle of the back part laterally to points short of the hip-overlying portions, and extending from adjacent the upper part of the buttocks portion downwardly and outwardly to overlie the upper leg portion, the panel means primarily being yieldably resistant in a vertical direction.

9. In the garment of claim 8, the two panels meeting along a vertical seam along the middle of the back, that extends down approximately to the crotch portion of the body-encircling means; the lower edges of the panels thence extending outwardly and downwardly to overlie the middle parts of the leg portions, and thence across to the upper edges, the upper edges extending upwardly and inwardly to approximately the waist portion.

10. In a garment: a panty shell adapted to fit around the abdomen of a wearer from approximately the waist to the crotch and the upper leg portions, the shell being sufficiently resilient to hug snugly against the body of the wearer; buttocks panel means secured to the shell at the waist portion thereof in the back at the middle of the said back portion and laterally to short of the hip portions of the shell, the panel means extending in the middle of the back of the shell from adjacent the waist downwardly toward the crotch portion and from the crotch portion outwardly and downwardly on each side toward the leg portions, so as to be adapted to overlie the gluteus maximus muscles of the wearer; the panel means being yieldable principally in a vertical direction along the middle part of the back of the wearer, the arrangement being such that the panel, being attached to the panty shell at least adjacent the waist portion and its lower ends, can fiatten the buttocks of the wearer.

11. In the garment of claim 10, the panel means being of one-way stretch fabric disposed with the direction of stretch vertical.

12. In the garment of claim 10, the panty shell being of two-way stretch material, including a waist portion, a crotch portion, and two leg openings, the buttocks panel means extending laterally outwardly at the lower portion to approximately the sides of the garment and over the leg openings to provide garter-receiving portions.

13. In the garment of claim 8, the body-encircling means having a front abdominal portion, including a first abdominal panel primarily yieldable only in a horizontal direction, extending substantially from one side to the other and from the upper to the lower part of the abdominal portion whereby it is adapted to compress the abdomen of the wearer.

14. In the garment of claim 13: a pair of elongated narrow, strip panels disposed in crossed-over relationship diagonally across the front of the body-encircling means and overlying the first abdominal panel, and each strip panel secured at its ends to the upper and lower parts of said encircling means, with their mid-parts overlying 9 each other at the middle of the abdominal part of the encircling means and also of the first abdominal panel, the strips being yieldably resilient principally in longitudi nal direction.

15. In the garment of claim 13: second panel means secured to the abdominal front part of the encircling means and overlying the first panel means, the second panel means extending from the lower middle of said abdominal part upwardly and laterally, and being secured to the encircling means at the lower middle of said abdominal front part, the upper portions to opposite sides of the middle, and the lower portions to opposite sides of the middle, the second panel means being yieldable primarily in directions upwardly from the lower middle and outwardly whereby it is adapted to correspond to the direction of the rectus abdominis muscles of a wearer.

16. In the garment of claim 15: the encircling means being a panty shell of two-way stretch material, a hanger comprising a piece of two-way stretch material secured to the abdominal part of the encircling means, and the first and second panel means being secured in overlying relationship to the hanger, the hip portions of the panty shell encircling means being free of the panels and the hanger.

17. In a garment: a panty shell of material yieldably resistant and adapted to fit snugly about the lower torso from adjacent the waist to adjacent the crotch of a wearer; first front panel means extending across the abdominal portion of the shell from adjacent its upper part to adjacent its lower part, yieldable principally in a horizontal direction, and secured at its lateral edges to the shell, whereby it is adapted to overlie transversalis muscles of a wearer and to flatten the abdomen; second panel means secured to the front of the shell in overlying relation to the first panel means and yieldable principally along lines upwardly and outwardly from the middle of the front of the garment, whereby it is adapted to correspond to muscles extending in such directions so as to give lift to the abdomen of the wearer.

18. In the garment of claim 17: the second panel means including two elongated strap-like panels, each yieldable primarily lengthwise and the two being crossed over the front of the shell like an X, and secured to the shell at their ends.

19. In the garment of claim 17: the second panel means including a panel yieldable principally upwardly and outwardly in diverging directions from its lower middlle, whereby it is adapted to correspond to the rectus abdominis of a wearer, and secured to the shell at the middle bottom of the shell, whereby it is adapted to be secured adjacent the crotch of the wearer and at its sides adjacent the waist of the garment.

20. In the garment of claim 19: there being additional criss cross strips each yieldable principally longitudinally, and crossed over each other in the form of an X, and secured at their ends to overlie the middle of the front of the shell.

21. In the garment of claim 20: a hanger of material yieldable in two directions, secured across only the front of the shell, leaving the sides of the shell that are adapted to overlie the hips of the wearer free of panels and hanger.

22. A garment including a panty shell of elastic material adapted to surround the torso of a wearer; the shell having a back part adapted to overlie the buttocks of a wearer, side parts adapted to overlie the hips of the wearer, and a front portion joining the side parts, the frontportion having a waist part, a crotch part, and a panel between them adapted to overlie the abdomen of the wearer; a hanger of two-way stretch material, of a size to overlie the abdominal panel of the front portion whereby it can rest over the abdomen of a wearer between the side parts of the garment, the hanger being secured to the shell adjacent the edges of the hanger on its opposite sides, whereby it may be stretched when the garment is worn; and at least one elastic support means extending from adjacent one edge of the hanger to adjacent an opposite edge and connected with the hanger at such edges.

23. The garment of claim 22, the hanger being formed of two pieces of two-way stretch material sewed together along a vertical center line at the middle of the front panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,860,640 11/1958 Clark 128540 2,879,771 3/1959 Bell 128540 3,121,428 2/1964 Laguzzi 128548 3,142,302 7/1964 Schonberg 128548 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A GARMENT; A MAIN GARMENT ADAPTED TO FIT AROUND THE ABDOMEN OF A WEARER AND HAVING A FRONT PART ADAPTED TO EXTEND FROM THE CROTCH AREA TO THE WAIST AREA OF A WEARER, TO OVERLIE TGHE RECTUS ABDOMINIS, THE TRANSVERSALIS, AND THE OBLIQUE SET OF MUSCLES OF THE WEARER; FIRST ELASTIC PANEL MEANS SECURED AT ITS LATERAL EDGES TO THE GARMENT AND EXTENDING ACROSS THE FRONT PART OF THE GARMENT, HAVING VERTICAL AND LATERAL EXTENT TO OVERLIE THE MIDDLE OF SAID FRONT PART OF THE GARMENT, AND HAVING RESILIENCY TO YIELD PRINCIPALLY ONLY HORIZONTALLY, THEREBY BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE TRANSVERSALIS MUSCLES OF A WEARER, A SECOND ELASTIC PANEL MEANS EXTENDING FROM THE UPPER TO THE LOWER PART OF THE FRONT PART OF THE GARMENT AND ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE MIDDLE THEREOF, IT BEING SECURED ONTO THE FRONT OF THE GARMENT AT SPACED POINTS TOWARD THE UPPER AND LOWER PARTS OF THE FRONT OF THE GARMENT, AND ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT THEREOF, WITH RESILIENCY TO YIELD PRINCIPALLY ONLY IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL DIRECTION BUT SLIGHTLY UPWARD AND OUTWARD, SO AS TO BE ADAPTED TO OVERLIE A SECOND OF SAID SETS OF MUSCLES, SAID SECOND ELASTIC PANEL MEANS OVERLYING THE FIRST AND BEING LIMITED IN AREA TO COME SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN THE AREA OF SUCH SECOND SET OF MUSCLES. 